Unusual diplomatic activity in Dhaka has sparked concern regarding events planned for December 25 in Bangladesh, prompting heightened vigilance from Western missions. Germany’s embassy in Bangladesh has announced its closure on December 24 and 25, while the US Embassy in Dhaka has issued a specific advisory for December 25, anticipating potential disruptions and advising caution.
Although the German mission has not provided a detailed explanation for its two-day operational halt, the American embassy has offered a more comprehensive advisory. These developments follow recent condolence statements from several Western nations, including the US, UK, and EU member states, regarding the death of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi. The heightened alert from Germany and the United States for December 25 in Bangladesh has raised questions.
The German Embassy in Dhaka posted on X, stating, “The Embassy will be closed on 24 and 25 December and will resume operations from December 28.” The US Embassy’s advisory points to media reports indicating that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) plans a large gathering in Dhaka to mark the return of its acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. The rally is reportedly scheduled to commence at 11:45 am on December 25, with a route planned from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Gulshan, encompassing the Purbachal Expressway and other key roads. Consequently, significant traffic congestion is anticipated. The advisory recommends that travelers in and around Dhaka allow ample extra time for their journeys and explore alternative routes. Airport-bound passengers are advised to carry their air tickets and travel documents, as they may be required at police checkpoints. In parallel, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor discussed recent Bangladeshi developments and upcoming elections with Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Tarique Rahman, the BNP’s acting chairman, has reportedly applied for a travel pass to return to Bangladesh on December 25, submitting his application at the Bangladesh High Commission in London. A Facebook post from December 18 by the BNP confirmed Rahman’s planned arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:45 am on December 25. Rahman, son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and party chairperson Khaleda Zia, has been living in the UK since 2008 for medical treatment after his arrest in 2007. His wife, Zubaida Rahman, recently returned to London after a visit to Bangladesh.
The political landscape of Bangladesh has been significantly shaped by the Zia family. Khaleda Zia, a proponent of multi-party democracy, served as the country’s first female prime minister in 1991 and again from 2001 to 2006. The BNP has boycotted the last three elections, and speculation is mounting about its potential return to power in the upcoming elections. During Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, both Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman faced convictions in multiple cases, though they were later acquitted by an interim government.
The death of student leader Sharif Usman Hadi on December 12, following an attack, has further complicated the situation. Hadi, a figure associated with the 2024 uprising, died in Singapore after being hospitalized. His demise triggered localized violence in Bangladesh, including an alleged attack on the Indian High Commission amidst rumors that his attackers had fled to India. Western embassies, including Germany’s, issued condolence messages and lowered their flags. Former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal raised concerns about the diplomatic prominence given to Hadi’s death by Western countries, questioning its relevance and suggesting it could send a regional message to India, particularly given Hadi’s group’s stance on secularism and its alleged Islamist links.
Amidst these evolving dynamics, Russia’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Grigoryevich Khozin, emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions between Bangladesh and India. Relations between the two neighboring countries have been strained, particularly following the unrest last year and intensified anti-India sentiment after Hadi’s death. A recent diplomatic spat occurred after an alleged protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on December 20, which Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry deemed an “inappropriate incident,” contrasting with India’s characterization of the events as “misleading propaganda.”
